alex ovechkin

Ovechkin Dismisses Retirement rumors, Vows too Play provided that Love for Hockey Endures

Washington D.C. – Alexander Ovechkin, the NHL‘s all-time leading goal scorer, has definitively shut down speculation surrounding his potential retirement after the upcoming season, labeling such reports as “pure nonsense.” The Washington Capitals captain, who has one year remaining on his current contract, reiterated his commitment to playing as long as his passion for the game remains strong.

Reports of Ovechkin’s possible retirement were initially fueled by a social media post from the Capitals that inadvertently referred to the upcoming season as his last. This,coupled with Ovechkin’s own comments during locker clean-out day about honoring his contract but being uncertain about his future beyond that,created fertile ground for speculation. He had previously stated he hadn’t considered extension talks with the Capitals, who he becomes eligible to negotiate with on July 1st.However, in a recent interview with Russian publication Sport-Express, ovechkin directly addressed and dismissed the retirement rumors. He also hinted at the possibility of continuing his career beyond his current contract, even leaving the door open for a return to Russia to conclude his playing days. This sentiment echoes earlier remarks made to Sammi Silber of DC Backcheck in February, where Ovechkin expressed his desire to play for as long as his love for hockey persists, possibly extending his NHL tenure.

At 39 years old, ovechkin demonstrated last season that he is far from slowing down. Not only did he surpass Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record, but he also posted an extraordinary 44 goals and 73 points in just 65 games. His playoff performance was equally strong, with five goals in 10 games. Over the past four seasons, from age 36 to 39, Ovechkin has netted 167 goals and is now just three shy of reaching the monumental 900-goal milestone.

Despite having already achieved the ultimate scoring record in the NHL, Ovechkin remains on the cusp of another historic achievement. His continued high-level performance, even with a physically demanding style of play throughout his career, is remarkable. Beyond his scoring prowess, Ovechkin also ranks third all-time in hits, underscoring his enduring impact on the game.